Hook lease reed



May 17, 1938. A J WLER 2,111,909

HOOK LEASE REED Filed Dec. 14, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 17, 1938. A E ZJB LQQQ HOOK LEASE REED Filed Dec. 14, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 17, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFncE American Supply Company,

Central Falls,

It. 1., a corporation of Rhode Island Application December 14, 1936, Serial No. 115,667

17 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in hook lease reeds. While I am aware that others have provided lease reeds having sets of solder blocks joining alternate dents together near the upper and lower portions thereof to permit the taking of two half leases in theloom beam with a removable top for raising or dropping the yarn into the dent spaces, as shown in Patent No. 495,435 to Simoneau issued April 11, 1893, and others haveprovided hook lease reeds with open tops but without the solder blocks joining alternate dents together near the lower portions thereof, as shown in British Patent No. 17,023 of 1902 to Eugene Bonnard for taking one and one end leases between the different beams on the creel making up the loom beam, and that it has been standard practice in the trade for many years to provide a hook lease reed embodying both of these leasing features but with the upper portions of the dents rigidly joined together as well as the lower portions thereof, requiring the necessity of twisting in or drawing-in each individual end through the reed, so far as I am aware I am the first to provide a hook lease reed having a removable top to provide a structure having all the advantages of a solid hook lease reed yet permitting the laying-in or dropping-in of the individual ends between the dents and permitting the taking of all types of full or half leases therein regardless of the number of yarn beams employed in making up one loom beam. In the prior art it has been necessary to employ one lease reed to each yarn beam or use the old method of drawing-in or twisting-in through a single hook lease reed, both expensive and laborious methods. In the provision of a hook lease reed of this description it is necessary not'only to retain the upper extremities of the dents in longitudinal alignment but it is highly desirable to apply longitudinal compression to the ends of a row of aligned dents to make the upper portions of the dents as rigid as formerly employed in former types of rigid hook lease reeds. To keep the dents in longitudinal alignment, I preferably provide a removable upper cap or rod member having a longitudinal slot therein of substantially the thickness of the dents, and to apply com pression to the ends of the row of aligned dents,

I preferably provide wedge plates detachably insertable between the usual end plates of the hook lease reed and the ends of the row of longitudinally aligned dents to compress the upper extremities of the longitudinally aligned flexible dents into accurate longitudinal alignment, preferably also employing a type of spacing solder blocks of equal length soldered to similar end walls thereof to equally space the upper extremities of said dents, said blocks preferably also having upper walls inclined downwardly from said dents to permit the ready laying-in of an end of yarn between each dent. In order to provide a positively rigid structure, I preferably provide means preferably comprising cap members threadedly adjustable on the ends of said rod to compress the upper extremities of said longitudinally aligned plates, wedges and dents to provide a hook lease reed having as rigid an upper portion as the former types of hook lease reeds not provided with removable tops.

A further object of my invention is to provide on removal of said wedges and-the longitudinally aligning and compressing cap and compressing means a ready longitudinal flexibility of the individual dents to permit the easy laying-in or dropping-in of the requisite number of ends, and during this operation, I preferably provide means or bars for retaining the upper portions of said dents in longitudinal alignment during the removal of said rod or cap for threading in the ends between said dents. Employing my improved type of rigid hook lease reed as against the wellknown type of rigid hook lease reed permitting the laying or dropping-in of the ends instead of the'twisting-in or drawing-in of the ends, I am enabled to save 50-70% of the time and labor required in setting up a new loom beam from a set of yarn beams based on the total time it is necessary to shut the slasher down in changing over and thereby increasing the total productive capacity of the slasher 30% and permitting the use of less skilled and fewer operators than are required to accurately twist-in or draw-in the ends.

a A further object of my invention is to provide a construction capable of providing a more perfect warp than hitherto possible insuring that all ends be parallel as more accurate control of yarn ends is possible.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction permitting the more ready detection of any end or ends that may be missing on the section beam during the creeling-in operation and a construction which will positively avoid any possibility of crossing ends.

Further objects of my invention are to provide a construction permitting more ready access to the warp in case of trouble from piling up which occurs when yarn ends become crossed or due to breakage and one which is easier to fix when the yarn breaks near the reed. In comparison with the new types of double creel systems for changing sets of yarn beams to make up a loom beam, it is apparent that employing my improved reed the loombeam may be set up to operate at substantially the same speed as required in said systems without the necessity of the large capital investment or large floor areas required by said systems.

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of an embodiment thereof such as shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a hook lease reed with a removable top constructed in accordance with my invention with the angle bars removed and showing the reed with parts assembled for actual leasing.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken alone the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a disassembled front elevation of my improved hook lease reed with the compression means, wedges and removable top removed but With the aligning bars inserted in position for the laying or dropping in of the ends in the spaces between the individual dents, parts of the cap members and rods being shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout, Ill generally indicates a hook lease reedhaving a removable top constructed in accordance with my invention. Said reed includes a row i2 of longitudinally aligned dents Hi and flat end plates iii of substantially the thickness of said dents and means to join the lower extremities of said row l2 of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates in longitudinal alignment, in my preferred embodiment comprising a longitudinally split tube l9, into the longitudinal split i! of which the lower extremities of the longitudinally aligned dents are secured preferably by solder at equally spaced longitudinal distances by means preferably comprising a lower helical spring l8 and an upper helical spring 28, each having the winds thereof interposed between adjacent dents and suitably soldered thereto by the solder 22, the lower extremities of said flat end plates being also soldered within said split tube l9 by the solder 2d exterior of the ends of said row of aligned dents. In my preferred embodiment, to provide a more desirable construction I provide the intermediate flat socket plates 26 also substantially the thickness of said dents and also having the lower extremities thereof soldered within said split tube ill at spaced longitudinal distances from opposite ends of said row of aligned dents. In the preferred embodiment said socket plates 26 are provided with aligned bar receiving studs 3!] projecting from each side thereof near the upper end thereof and receiving sockets 32 near the upper inner ends thereof, in the preferred embodiment said sockets 32 being provided by having the upper ends of said plates 29 cut away as at 34, at each inner end thereof, with the upper end of each socket plate below said cut-away portion having a vertical notch 36 therein and guideway forming plates 38 secured to each side wall of each plate on opposite sides of said notch 36, forming the vertical socket 32 with said vertical notch 36. In the event that the socket plates 26 be omitted, the end plates l6 are similarly spaced from each end of the row of aligned dents for the insertion of the-wedge means ll], to be described between the inner ends thereof and the outer ends of the aligned row of dents, instead of between the inner ends of said socket plates 26 and the outer ends of said row E2 of dents Hi. If the socket plates 28 be employed, the lower extremities of the flat socket plates 26 and the lower extremities of the flat end plates i 5 are suitably soldered within said split tube by the solder 24.

It is thus obvious that with this construction a certain amount of longitudinal flexibility of the upper extremities of the aligned row of dents is permitted and to equally space the upper extremities of said dents and to provide means to permit the relative longitudinal tilting of said dent upper extremities, said dents have the blocks 42 of equal length soldered to similar end walls 44 thereof, said blocks 42 having upper Walls 46 inclined downwardly from said dents.

Said dents H! are also provided with a hook 48 projecting downwardly at a spaced distance from each dent. While said hooks may be constructed in any convenient manner, in my preferred embodiment the blocks .2 are preferably provided with recesses 59 in the lower walls thereof adjacent said dents and the hooks 48 comp-rise the strips 52 having the upper extremities 54 thereof soldered within said recesses 50 and the lower hock forming tips 58 thereof projecting downwardly at spaced distances from each dent and to accurately space said tips 48 substantially midway of adjacent dents, the solder blocks are provided vertically spaced from the lower tips 48 of said hooks to join the lower portions of said strips 52 to said similar dent surfaces. It is obvious that with this construction a hook lease reed is provided capable of taking a full one to one lease. If it be also desired to provide a hook lease reed capable of taking half leases, solder blocks 60 are preferably provided joining opposite alternate dents together near the lower portions thereof and if desired similar staggered alternate supplemental hooks and solder blocks may be provided to join opposite alternate dents together near the upper portions thereof to facilitate manufacture of some special warps.

As stated hitherto, in order to rigidly compress the upper extremities of said dents together in longitudinal alignment, I provide the longitudinal wedge plates 40, also of substantially the thickness of said dents adapted to be interposed between said row of longitudinally aligned dents and socket plates 26, if employed, or end plates I6 if said socket plates 25 be not employed, having outer end walls 5 5 adapted to abut the inner end walls of said socket plates 25 or end plates i5 and terminating in inner end walls having lower upwardly inclined cam portions 66 and substantially vertical upper locking portions 68 adapted to abut the outer ends of said aligned row of dents and compress them into substantially vertical alignment. As stated hitherto, the sockets 32 are preferably provided the inner walls of said socket plates for receiving projections from the outer ends of said wedge plates 40, each projection 65 being formed by providing a vertical notch 10 in the lower wall thereof spaced from the outer end wall thereof to provide the downward projection 65 to compactly fit within each socket 32.

As stated hitherto, I also provide a removable cap member 62 provided with a longitudinal slot 12 therein of substantially the thickness of said dents l4, wedges 4D and plates I6 and/or 26 for receiving the upper extremities of said dents, wedges and plates and supplementally retaining them in longitudinal alignment. For a purpose to be described, said rod 62 is preferably provided with the externally threaded ends 14. As also stated hitherto, I provide means to longitudinally compress the upper extremities of. said aligned dents, wedges and plates to provide a hook lease reed having a rigid upper portion and in my preferred embodiment said means comprises the hollow cap members 16 internally threaded as at 18 for receiving each externally threaded end of said rod cap member 62 having inwardly projecting circular inner annular lips 80 adapted to rotate Within and abut the inner surfaces of notches 82 cut in the outer end walls of the end plates l6 near the upper extremities thereof to longitudinally compress the upper extremities of said aligned plates, wedges and dents between said opposite cap members 16 toprovide a hook lease reed having a rigid upper portion. The annular projections 80 and notches 82 are provided to prevent the cap members 16 from riding upwards on the end plates as compression is exerted thereon.

In order to lay in or drop in the ends of yarn in the spaces between the dents I4, the slotted cap member or rod 62 is removed after releasing compression from or total removal of the cap nut members 16 therefrom and the wedges 40 are removed from their sockets to permit longi tudinal flexibility of the upper ends of said dents so that they may conveniently receive the ends of yarn between them, and in order to retain the row of dents in substantially longitudinal alignment, I provide suitable bars 86 in the preferred embodiment the L-bars shown having notches 84 therein for receiving the aligning studs 30 therein so that said bars may abut the side walls of the aligned dents for retaining the upper portions of said dents in longitudinal alignment while laying-in the ends of yarn between said dents.

It is thus obvious that after the ends of yarn are laid between said dents, the wedges 40 are re-inserted to compress the dents into substantially vertical alignment, the outer ends 64 of said wedges bearing against the inner ends of said flat plates for this purpose and the upper extremities of said dents being equally spaced by the flat free end walls of said blocks 42 abutting adjacent dent end wall portions after which the cap member 62 may be inserted over the upper extremities of said aligned dents, wedges and plates, the upper extremities of said aligned dents, wedges, and plates compactly fitting within the longitudinal slot 12 therein and the end cap members 16 screwed on to the extremities of said rod 62 to longitudinally compress the upper extremities of said thus aligned upper extremities of said dents, wedges and plates to provide a hook lease reed having a positively rigid upper portion. Then the bars 86 being no longer necessary, may be removed and the desired half leases or full leases taken as is customary in the trade for hook lease reeds, otherwise known as Scotch hook reeds in the following manner,

In the making up of a warp for the ultimate weaving of cloth it is necessary to combine a multitude of separate ends of yarn onto one large beam or spool. This spool is then placed in the loom, woven together with the filling to produce a strong interwoven web or fabric.

The large spool or beam of warp yarn is made up by combining the yarn from several other large spools, each containing a given number of ends of yarn. The number of ends of yarn to be combined together in forming one warp are dependent on the type of cloth to be woven. In so combining a large number of ends of yarn together, difiiculty is experienced in keeping each piece of yarn in proper relation to its neighbors especially in the cotton process of warping where the separate sheets of yarn from several smaller spools or beams are passed through a slasher which impregnates the yarn with a sizing beneficial to the yarn in the weaving process. Size is an organic material in liquid form and a substance which has some adhesive qualities. If the mass of yarn ends were allowed to pass through the slasher without being separated one from the other, several ends could. become crossed thereby causing trouble in the weaving operation. To keep the yarn straight and parallel in this operation a device called a hook reed is used. In the use of this reed the yarn from each separate beam to be combined together to make the whole warp, is introduced into the reed by placing one end of yarn into each dent space. The beam is made up to conform to the number of dents in the reed. Any number of beams may be used but it is necessary that an even number of ends be introduced into each dent space.

The hook reed itself is composed of a number of parallel vertical dents. Every other dent at the bottom side of the reed is joined together with a block of solder. Each dent on the top side of the reed has a thin flat dent wire attached to it but separated in such a manner as to form a short hook. The yarn may be passed into the space between the hook and the dent, bottoming against the block which fastens the hook onto the dent wire. Again by pressing the yarn to the opposite side of the dent space, the yarn is free to pass into the space between the hook and the next dent and pass freely to the top of the reed. Means therefore are presented which enables an operator to split the combined spools which form the warp into separate sheets of yarn and by splitting these, as will be. described, to keep the yarn in its proper relation one end to the other. In operation the reed is drawn-in, twisted-in or layed-in. These terms simply mean that the separate yarn ends are separately introduced into the proper dent space in the reed. As each complete beam is introduced to the reed in its entirety a rod is so arranged between the beam and the reed as to have the yarn pass over it forming a separate sheet of yarn. Each beam is so treated. After all beams are thus introduced to the reed the combined ends of yarn are split half and half. This is done by pressing the ends of yarn to the bottom. of the reed. Half the ends go no further than the blocks at the bottom of the reed and the other half pass down to the rib or bottom of the reed. On the. side of the reed towards the slasher a small tunnel or space is thus formed through which a rod may be passed and followed through by a string. This process is called taking a half lease. The ends of yarn are again moved into the center of the reed and the yarn moved into the machine a short Way to provide equal tension on all ends. The operator then stops the movement of the yarn and proceeds to take a full lease in the warp. He does this as follows. The sheet formed by the beam furthest away from the reed is separated from its fellows by the rod previously inserted. The rod is grasped by the operators and brought toward the reed being thrust slightly to the hook side of the dents. This pushes the yarn against the side of the dents in the reed. When all ends are in contact with the reed a slight upward movement is made and the yarn end brought up against the block which fastens the hook wire. The rod is then placed in a bracket in such a manner as to produce a strain on the yarn sufficient to hold it in place. The next sheet of yarn is treated in a like manner, but the thrust movement is to the opposite side. The upward movement this time allows the yarn to pass the hook and rest against the top of the reed. Alternate succeeding beams are treated likewise. At the conclusion of this operation half the ends of yarn are resting in the hook space and the other half are at the top of the reed. Each individual yarn end is in correct relation to the other yarn ends. Again a tunnel of triangular space is formed at the machine side of the reed. The rod and string are introduced. The rod is removed leaving the string in place. This gives a (one and one) half lease. The lease is completed by reversing the process, i. e., the first beam or beam furthest away from the reed is passed by the hooks to the top of the reed, the second is passed into the hooks, etc. Through the tunnel or space formed by thus splitting the warp a rod and string are passed. The rod is again removed leaving the string in place. Thus we have taken two half leases (one and one). Two adjacent ends of yarn in cross section would appear as shown below. The formation of the web or double X is kept intact by the two inserted strings and the whole warp may now be passed all the way through the slasher without the relation of one end of yarn to another being disturbed. In other words, the 55th end on each beam and all ends will be parallel throughout passage through the machine.

To remove the ends from the lease-reed it is obvious that it is merely necessary to unscrew the cap members '56, remove the rod 62 and wedges Ml, and by bearing the ends of yarn against the free dent end surfaces, they may be raised upwards past the hook tips 48 by the flexing of the individual dents past the blocks 12.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A hook lease reed comprising, a row of longitudinally aligned dents, flat end plates of substantially the thickness of said dents and means to joint the lower extremities of said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates in longitudinal alignment, the upper extremities of said dents having blocks of equal length soldered to similar end walls thereof, said blocks having upper walls inclined downwardly from said dents and hooks projecting downwardly from said similar end surfaces of said dents having lower hook forming tips projecting downwardly at spaced longitudinal distances from each of said dents, a rod having a longitudinal slot therein of substantially the thickness of said dents and plates for receiving the upper extremities of said dents and plates and retaining them in longitudinal alignment and having externally threaded ends and internally threaded cap mem bers for each end of said rod having inner ends adapted to abut the outer ends of said end plates.

2. A hook lease reed comprising, a row of longitudinally aligned dents, flat end plates of substantially the thickness of said dents aligned therewith, and means to join the lower extremities of said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates in longitudinal alignment, the upper extremities of said dents having blocks of equal lengthsoldered to similar end walls thereof, said blocks having upper walls inclined downwardly from said dents and hooks projecting downwardly from said similar end surfaces of said dents having lower hook forming tips projecting downwardly at spaced longitudinal distances from each of said dents, longitudinal wedge plates also of substantially the thickness of said dents adapted to be longitudinally interposed between said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates having outer end walls adapted to abut the inner end walls of said end plates and inner end walls adapted to abut the outer ends of said aligned row of dents and compress them into substantially vertical alignment, and a rod having a longitudinal slot therein of substantially the thickness of said dents, wedges and plates for receiving the upper extremities of said dents, wedges and plates and retaining them in longitudinal alignment.

3. A hook lease reed comprising, a row of iongitudinally aligned dents, fiat end plates of substantially the thickness of said dents and means to join the lower extremities of said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates in longitudinal alignment, the upper extremities of said dents having blocks of equal length soldered to similar end walls thereof, said blocks having upper walls inclined downwardly from said dents and hooks projecting downwardly from said similar end surfaces of said dents, having lower hook forming tips projecting downwardly at spaced longitudinal distances from each of said dents,

and means to longitudinally compress the upper extremities of said aligned plates and dents together to provide a hook lease reed having a rigid upper portion.

4. A hook lease reed comprising, a row of longitudinally aligned dents, flat end plates of substantially the thickness of said dents aligned therewith and means to join the lower extremities of said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates in longitudinal alignment, the upper extremities of said dents having blocks of equal length soldered to similar end walls thereof, said blocks havingupper walls inclined downwardly from said dents and hooks projecting downwardly from said similar end surfaces of said dents, having lower hook forming tips projecting downwardly at spaced distances from each dent and longitudinal wedge plates also of substantially the thickness of said dents adapted to be longitudinally interposed between said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates having outer end walls adapted to abut the inner end Walls of said end plates and terminating in inner end walls having lower upwardly inclined cam portions and substantially vertical upper locking portions adapted to abut the outer ends of said aligned row of dents and compress them into substantially vertical alignment.

5. A hook lease reed comprising, a row of longitudinally aligned dents, flat end plates of substantially the thickness of said dents aligned therewith and means to join the lower extremities of said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates in longitudinal alignment, the upper extremities of said dents having blocks of equal length soldered to similar end walls thereof, said blocks having upper walls inclined downwardly from said dents and hooks projecting downwardly from said similar end surfaces of said dents, having lower hook forming tips projecting downwardly at spaced distances from each dent and longitudinal wedge plates also of substantially the thickness of said dents adapted to be longitudinally interposed between said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates having outer end walls adapted to abut the inner end walls of said end plates and terminating in the inner end walls adapted to abut the outer ends of said aligned row of dents and compress them into substantially vertical alignment.

6. A hook lease reed comprising, a row of longitudinally aligned dents, fiat socket plates of substantially the thickness of said dents, means to secure the lower extremities of said dents and plates in longitudinal alignment with said socket plates at spaced longitudinal distances from opposite ends of said row of aligned dents, said socket plates having the upper ends thereof cut away at each inner end thereof with the upper end of each socket plate below said cut away portion having a vertical notch therein and guideway forming plates secured to the side wall of each plate on opposite sides of said notch forming a vertical socket with said vertical notch, flat end plates of substantially the thicknessof said dents and means to join the lower extremities of said end plates in longitudinal alignment with said row of longitudinally aligned dents, the upper extremities of said dents having blocks of equal length soldered to similar end walls thereof, said blocks having upper walls inclined downwardly from said dents and hooks projecting downwardly from said similar end surfaces of said dents, having lower hook forming tips projecting downwardly at spaced longitudinal distances from each of said dents, longitudinal wedge plates also of substantially the thickness of said dents having vertical notches in the lower wall thereof spaced from the outer end walls thereof to provide downward projections to compactly lit within each socket, and having inner walls adapted to abut the outer ends of said aligned row of dents and compress them into substantially vertical alignment, a rod having a longitudinal slot therein of substantially the thickness of said dents, wedges and. plates for receiving the upper extremities of said dents, wedges and plates and retaining them in longitudinal alignment and having externally threaded ends, and internally threaded cap members for each end of saidrod having inwardly projecting annular inner ends adapted to abut the outer ends of said end plates to longitudinal]? compress the upper extremities of said aligned plates, wedges and dents to provide a hook lease reed having a rigid upper portion.

7. A hook lease reed comprising, a longitudinally split tube, a row of longitudinally aligned dents having the lower extremities thereof soldered at equally spaced longitudinal distances Within said split tube, flat end plates of substantially the thickness of said dents having the lower extremities thereof soldered within said split tube exterior of said dents, the upper extremities of said dents having blocks of equal length soldered to similar end walls thereof, said blocks having upper walls inclined downwardly from said dents and hooks projecting downwardly from said similar end surfaces of said dents, having lower hook forming tips projecting downwardly at spaced longitudinal distances from each of said dents, longitudinal wedge plates also of substantially the thickness of said dents adapted to be longitudinally interposed between said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates having outer end walls adapted to abut the inner end walls of said end plates and inner end walls adapted to abut the outer ends of said aligned row of dents and compress them into substantially vertical alignment and means to longitudinally compress the upper extremities of said aligned plates, wedges, and dents, to provide a hook lease reed having a rigid upper portion.

8. A hook lease reed comprising, a row of longitudinally aligned dents, flat end plates of substantially the thickness of said dents aligned therewith and means to join the lower extremities of said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates in longitudinal alignment, the upper extremities of said dents having blocks of equal length soldered to similar end walls thereof, said blocks having upper walls inclined downwardly from said dents and hooks projecting downwardly from said similar end surfaces of said dents, having lower hook forming tips projecting downwardly at spaced longitudinal distances from each of said dents, longitudinal wedge plates also of substantially the thickness of said dents adapted to be longitudinally interposed between said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates having outer end walls adapted to abut the inner end walls of said end plates and adapted to abut the outer ends of said aligned row of dents and compress them into substantially vertical alignment, a rod having a longitudinal slot therein of substantially the thickness of said dents, wedges and plates for receiving the upper extremities of said dents, wedges and plates and retaining them in longitudinal alignment and having externally thread ed ends and internally threaded cap members for each end of said rod having inwardly projecting annular inner ends adapted to abut the-outer ends of said end plates to longitudinally compress the upper extremities of said aligned plates, wedges and dents to provide a hook lease reed having a rigid upper portion.

9. A hook lease reed comprising, a row of longitudinally aligned dents, flat socket plates of substantially the thickness of said dents, means to secure the lower extremities of said dents and plates in longitudinal alignment with said socket plates at spaced longitudinal distances from opposite ends of said row of aligned dents, said socket plates having the upper ends thereof cut away at each inner end thereof with the inner end of each socket plate below said cut away portion having a vertical notch therein and guideway forming plates secured to the side wall of each plate on opposite sides of said notch forming a vertical socket with said vertical notch, the upper extremities of said dents having blocks of equal length soldered to similar end walls thereof, said blocks having upper walls inclined downwardly from said dents and hooks projecting downwardly from said similar end surfaces of said dents, having lower hook forming tips projecting downwardly at spaced longitudinal distances from each of said dents, longitudinal wedge plates also of substantially the thickness of said dents having vertical notches in the lower walls thereof spaced from the outer end walls thereof to provide downward projections to compactly fit within each of said sockets, adapted to abut the outer ends of said aligned row of dents and compress them into substantially vertical alignment, and means to longitudinally compress the upper extremities of said aligned plates, wedges and dents to provide a hook lease reed having a rigid upper portion.

10. A hook lease reed comprising, a row of longitudinally aligned dents, flat end plates of substantially the thickness of said dents aligned therewith and means to join the lower extremitiesof said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates in longitudinal alignment, the upper extremities of said dents having blocks of equal length soldered to similar end walls thereof, said blocks having upper walls inclined downwardly from said dents and hooks projecting downwardly from said similar end sur faces of said dents, having lower hook forming tips projecting downwardly at spaced longitudinal distances from each of said dents, longitudinal wedge plates also of substantially the thickness of said dents adapted to be longitudinally interposed between said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates having outer end Walls adapted to abut the inner end walls of said end plates and inner end walls adapted to abut the outer ends of said aligned row of dents and compress them into substantially vertical alignment, means to longitudinally compress the upper extremities of said alignedplates, wedges and dents to provide a hook lease reed having a rigid upper portion and means for retaining the upper portions of said dents in longitudinal alignment'during removal of said compressing means and wedges for laying-in the ends between said dents.

1l.'A hook lease reed comprising, a row of longitudinally aligned dents, flat end plates of substantially the thickness of said dents aligned therewith and means to join the lower extremities of said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates in longitudinal alignment, the upper extremities of said dents having blocks of equal length soldered to similar end walls thereof, said blocks having upper walls inclined down: wardly from said dents and hooks projecting downwardly from said similar end surfaces of said dents, having lower hook forming tips projecting downwardly at spaced longitudinal distances from each of said dents, longitudinal wedge plates also of substantially the thickness of said dents adapted to be longitudinally interposed between said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates having outer end walls adapted to abut the inner end walls of said end plates and terminating in inner end walls adapted to abut the outer ends :of said aligned row of dents and compress them into substantially vertical alignment, means to longitudinally compress the upper extremities of said aligned plates, wedges and dents to provide a hook lease reed having a rigid upper portion and bars adapted to be attached to opposite sides of said row of dents for retaining the upper portions of said dents in longitudinal alignment during removal of said compressing means for laying-in the ends between said dents.

12. A hook lease reed comprising, a row of longitudinally aligned dents, flat end plates of substantially the thickness of said dents aligned therewith and means to join the lower extremities of said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates in longitudinal alignment, the upper extremities of said dents having blocks of equal length soldered to similar end walls thereof, said blocks having upper walls inclined downwardly from said dents and recesses in the lower walls thereof adjacent said dents, hooks projecting downwardly from said similar end surfaces of said dents, comprising strips having the upper extremities thereof soldered within said recesses and lower hook forming tips projecting downwardly at longitudinally spaced distances from each of said dents and solder blocks spaced from .the lower tips of said hooks joining the lower portions of said strips to said similar dent end surfaces, longitudinal wedge plates also of substantially the thickness of said dents adapted to be longitudinally interposed between said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates having outer end walls adapted to abut the inner end walls of said end plates and inner end walls adapted to abut the outer ends of said aligned row of dents and compress them into substantially vertical alignment, and means to longitudinally compress the upper extremities of said aligned plates, Wedges and dents to provide a hook lease reed having a rigid upper portion.

13. A hook lease reed comprising, a row of longitudinally aligned dents, flat end plates of substantially the thickness of said dents aligned therewith and means to join the lower extremities of said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates in. longitudinal alignment, the upper extremities of said dents having blocks of equal length soldered to similar end walls thereof, said blocks having upper walls inclined downwardly from said dents and hooks projecting downwardly from said similar end surfaces of said dents having lower hook forming tips projecting downwardly at longitudinally spaced distances from each of said dents, longitudinal wedge plates also of substantially the thickness of said dents adapted to be longitudinally interposed between said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates having outer end walls adapted to abut the inner' end walls of said endplates and inner end walls adapted to abut the outer ends of said aligned row of dents and compress them into substantially vertical alignment, and means to longitudinally compress the upper extremities of said aligned plates, wedges and dents to provide 'a hook lease reed having a rigid upper portion.

14. A hook'lease reed comprising, a longitudinally split tube, .a row of longitudinally aligned dents having the lower extremities thereof soldered at equally spaced longitudinal distances within said split'tube, flat socket plates of substantially'the thickness of said dents having the lower extremities thereof soldered within said split tube at spaced longitudinal distances from opposite ends of said row of aligned dents having aligned studs projecting laterally from each side thereof near the upper ends thereof and the upper ends thereof cut' away at each inner end thereof with the outer end of each guide plate below said cut away portion having a vertical notch therein and guideway forming plates secured to the side wall of each plate on opposite sides of said notch forming vertical sockets with said vertical notch, flat end plates of substantially the thickness of said dents having the lower extremities thereof also soldered Within said split tube exterior of said fiat socket plates, and notches in the upper portions of the outer ends thereof, the upper extremities of said dents having blocks of equal length soldered to similar end walls thereof, said blocks having upper walls inclined downwardly from the upper ends of said dents and recesses" in the lower walls thereof adjacent said dents,hooks projecting downwardly from said similar end surfaces of said dents, comprising strips having the upper extremities thereof soldered within said recesses and lower hook forming tips projecting downwardly at spaced distances from each of said dents and solder blocks spaced from the lower tips of said hooks joining the lower portions of said strips to said similar dent end surfaces and solder blocks joining alternate dents together near the lower portions thereof, longitudinal wedge plates also of substantially the thickness of said dents having vertical notches in the lower walls thereof spaced from the outer end walls thereof to provide downward projections to compactly fit within each socket, and inner end walls having lower upwardly inclined cam portions and substantially vertical upper locking portions adapted to abut the outer ends of said aligned row of dents and compress them into substantially vertical alignment, a rod having a longitudinal slot therein of substantially the thickness of said dents, wedges and plates for receiving the upper extremities of said dents, wedges and plates and retaining them in longitudinal alignment and having externally threaded ends, internally threaded cap members for each end of said rod having inwardly projecting annular inner ends adapted to abut the notches in the outer ends of said end plates to longitudinally compress the upper extremities of said aligned plates, wedges and dents to provide a hook lease reed having a rigid upper portion and bars having notches therein for hooking on said aligned studs for retaining the upper portions of said dents in longitudinal alignment during removal of said rod for laying-in the ends between said dents.

15. A hook lease reed comprising, a row of longitudinally aligned dents, flat end plates of substantially the thickness of said dents and means to join the lower extremities of said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates in longitudinal alignment, the upper extremities of said dents having spacing means of equal length projecting from end walls thereof, said means having upper walls inclined downwardly from said dents and hooks projecting downwardly from said end walls of said dents having lower hook forming tips projecting downwardly at spaced longitudinal distances from each of said dents, a rod having a longitudinal slot therein of substantially the thickness of said dents and plates for receiving the upper extremities of said dents and plates and retaining them in longitudinal alignment and having externally threaded ends and internally threaded cap members for each end of said rod having inner ends adapted to abut the outer ends of said end plates.

16. A hook lease reed comprising, a row of longitudinally aligned dents, flat end plates of substantially the thickness of said dents aligned therewith, and means to join the lower extremities of said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates in longitudinal alignment, the upper extremities of said dents having spacing means of equal length projecting from end walls thereof, said means having upper walls inclined downwardly from said dents and hooks projecting downwardly from said end walls of said dents having lower hook forming tips projecting downwardly at spaced longitudinal distances from each of said dents, longitudinal wedge plates also of substantially the thickness of said dents adapted to be longitudinally interposed between said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates having outer end walls adapted to abut the inner end walls of said end plates and inner end walls adapted to abut the outer ends of said aligned row of dents and compress them into substantially vertical alignment, and a rod having a longitudinal slot therein of substantially the thickness of said dents, wedges and plates for receiving the upper extremities of said dents, wedges and plates and retaining them in longitudinal alignment.

1'7. A hook lease reed comprising, a row of longitudinally aligned dents, flat end plates of substantially the thickness of said dents and means to join the lower extremities of said row of longitudinally aligned dents and end plates in longitudinal alignment, the upper extremities of said dents having spacing means of equal length projecting from end walls thereof, said means having upper walls inclined downwardly from said dents and hooks projecting downwardly from said end walls of said dents, having lower hook forming tips projecting downwardly at spaced longitudinal distances from each of said dents, and means to longitudinally compress the upper extremities of said aligned plates and dents together to provide a hook lease reed having a rigid upper portion.

ALBERT J. OWLER. 

